While it’s key aim is to provide an organising hub for Rationalists and Secularists, in the case of the Westminster one (which I attend often), it has become – at least in part – a local blogger’s meetup. There’s a significant crossover with the concerns of many bloggers as free speech (particularly in the face of libel threats) is a common theme. Recent concerns that have energised attendees have included the various ways different alternative therapists promote themselves and sometimes use (ultimately futile) abuses of the libel laws to attempt to silence scientific critics.

If it ever happens the Duke of York is the right place being the haunt of the alleged artsy types. Personally I think it sounds like The Tea Party idea and could prove the launch pad of a political career or two. I dont think we have journalists here of the calibre of Glenn Beck, Anne Coulter, Bill O’Reilly and Shaun Hannity to lead it. Stephen Nolan perhaps.

Mickles

You forgot the quotation marks around “journalists”.

fitzjameshorse1745

No I didnt. That would imply these people are not journalists. All journos like to think that there is a difference between being a journo on a “quality” title and a “tabloid hack”. As an egalitarian I regard them all in the same way.

joeCanuck

Witty, Mark. And if you’re schitzophrenic (can’t spell that word) you might be in two minds whether to go or not.

I’ve absolutely no idea where you get the idea that it’s either anything like the ‘Tea Party’ movement or an opportunity for political opportunists.

It tends to attract bearded aetheists (and some men as well) for the most part, and the best way to wear out your welcome is to do anything that looks like grandstanding.

joeCanuck

hehehehe

Jj

lol @ Paul

fitzjameshorse1745

“Skeptics in a Pub” seems to me likea rather obvious parody of the Tea Party idea. Where people who have self declared their alienation from mainstream politics meeting and massaging each others egos and contributing to each others conspiracy theories. Sounds like a wonderful night out. Alas a movement may not get off the ground as it requires a certain amount of energy (Beck, Coulter, Hannity, O’Reilly….not to mention Gaunt, Littlejohn, Ferrari) that the average pub skeptic might find too much.

“I would have done it yesterday if I hadnt had a cold But since Ive put this pint away….Im feeling rather bold As soon as this pub closes…..as soon as this pub closes………as soon as this pub closes……the revolution starts” (Alex Glasgow RIP…..much missed)

You absolutely won’t give up, no matter how plainly wrong you are on a subject about which you know nothing, will you?

“Where people who have self declared their alienation from mainstream politics meeting and massaging each others egos and contributing to each others conspiracy theories.”

Utter nonsense. Many of the people at the Skepticism events that I’ve met are positive members of existing mainstream political parties. One of the regular subjects at Skeptic events is the absurdity of ‘conspiracy theory’ type thinking. They are generally people of a scientific bent.

It is not a movement. It is a bunch of like-minded people meeting in the pub to hear interesting speakers tell them things they didn’t know.

There is very little by way of ‘revolutionary’ aspirations that I’ve detected in these meetings, indeed they tend to attract the kind of people who wouldn’t buy – never mind sell – a student political newspaper.

fitzjameshorse1745

Mr Evans “You absolutely won’t give up, no matter how plainly wrong you are on a subject about which you know nothing, will you?”